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Daylight saving
My least favourite day of the year is the first Sunday of October.
Daylight saving time (DST) is the practice of moving the clock forward by one hour during the warmer months to extend evening daylight and reduce morning daylight.
⏰ How It Works
- Start of DST: Clocks are set forward by one hour (e.g., from 2:00 am to 3:00 am), usually in spring.
- End of DST: Clocks are set back by one hour (e.g., from 3:00 am to 2:00 am), usually in autumn.
🌞 Purpose
- To make better use of natural daylight during the evenings.
- Originally intended to conserve energy by reducing the need for artificial lighting.
📍 In Australia
- Observed in: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the ACT.
- Not observed in: Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory.
- Typical schedule: Begins on the first Sunday in October and ends on the first Sunday in April.
🧠 Fun Fact
The idea was popularised by George Hudson, a New Zealand entomologist, in the late 19th century. It gained traction during World War I and World War II as a way to conserve fuel.
If I led Australia, I’d abolish daylight saving and change the central time zone to be 60 minutes behind the Eastern time zone rather than 30 minutes. I like light at the start of the day, and I like it dark when I climb into bed and want to sleep. When I’m cooking tea, I want the heat of a summer day to be waning rather than peaking.
I expect few Australians would want me as their leader! 😆
Labour day
Monday is Labour Day here. Labour Day is a public holiday that celebrates the achievements of workers and the labour movement, particularly the push for fair working conditions and the eight-hour workday. Its origins trace back to the 19th century, when workers around the world began campaigning for better rights and protections. In other countries, it’s often held on 1 May and known as May Day.
Grand final
Tonight, the National Rugby League Grand Final game is being played between the Brisbane Broncos and the Melbourne Storm. I had hoped the Dolphins NRL 🐬 team would have reached the final series, but alas, despite scoring more points than any team this season, they failed to make the “top eight.”
The Brisbane Broncos are my number 2 team, and the Melbourne Storm are my number 5 team. I rate my rugby league teams on their location and composition. Teams located in the greatest state in the federation sit at the top, followed by teams with a strong Maroons composition or history. That’s why, despite my usual antipathy to much that is in Victoria, the Melbourne Storm ranks higher than teams in New Zealand, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
Next year, a new team will enter the competition, namely the Bears, which will be based in Perth. I think it’s a mistake. I would have put the team in Northern New South Wales.
🏉 2025 NRL Grand Final Preview
The 2025 NRL Grand Final promises a thrilling showdown between two powerhouse clubs: the Brisbane Broncos and the Melbourne Storm, kicking off at 7:30 pm AEDT at Accor Stadium, Sydney.
🔥 Key Storylines
- Melbourne Storm is chasing their 5th Premiership, having last won in 2020.
- Brisbane Broncos aim for their 7th title, and their first since 2006.
- This marks their first Grand Final clash since 2006, reigniting a classic rivalry.
📊 Form Guide
- Storm finished 2nd in the regular season (17–7), defeating the Bulldogs and Sharks in the finals.
- The Broncos surged late to finish 4th, edging the Canberra Raiders and stunning the reigning champions, the Penrith Panthers 16–14 in a comeback victory.
🧠 Team News
Melbourne Storm (unchanged lineup):
- Key players: Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, Jahrome Hughes
- Milestone: Trent Loiero plays his 100th first-grade game.
Brisbane Broncos (one change):
- Pat Carrigan returns from suspension, replacing Tyson Smoothy.
- Ben Hunt starts at five-eighth, with Ezra Mam on the bench.
🧮 Head-to-Head in 2025
- The teams are 1–1 in their previous meetings this season, setting up a decisive clash.
📺 How to Watch
- Australia: Nine Network (free-to-air), Kayo Sports, Foxtel
- UK: Sky Sports
- US: Fox Sports (select coverage)
This Grand Final is expected to be a tactical battle between the Storm’s structured discipline and the Broncos’ explosive flair. With history, redemption, and legacy on the line, fans can expect a gripping contest.
The other good news for the Brisbane Broncos club is that their women’s team played in the NRLW Grand Final against the Sydney Roosters earlier today. The Broncos defeated the Roosters 22:18.
It’s been a big week for Brisbane with its Aussie rules team (Brisbane Lions) winning the Aussie rules premiership last week.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Bone in ribeye steak (700 grams at $AUD48/kg)[i]
- Salt[ii]
- Pepper[iii]
- Grass-fed butter[iv]
- Cream[v]
- Cream cheese[vi]
- Blue vein cheese[vii]
Equipment
- Water bath
- Precision cooker
- Barbecue grill
- Gas torch
- Steak knife[viii]
Instructions
Meat
- Dry brine the steak.
- Place the dry-brined steak in a food-safe bag and remove as much air as possible from the bag.
- Cook the steak for 3 hours at 57 °C.
- Dry the steak’s surfaces with absorbent paper.
- Sear the surfaces with the barbecue grill and gas torch.
- Carve the meat from the bone, then slice it to the desired thickness.
Sauce
- In a small saucepan, add the butter, cream, cream cheese, and blue vein cheese.
- Turn on the heat and use wooden chopsticks to stir and make the sauce slowly.
Vegetables
- Parboil some fennel and Brussels sprouts.
- Cook the vegetables on the barbecue grill while searing the steak.
Serving the meal
- Transfer the sliced meat to a dinner plate.
- Place the fennel and Brussels sprouts next to the meat.
- Spoon the sauce over and next to the meat.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Don’t forget to gnaw on the bone.
Thoughts on the meal
I enjoyed eating the steak. It was tender and flavoursome. The sauce complemented the beef. The fennel and Brussels sprouts also complemented the funkiness of the sauce.
Gnawing on the bone at the end was delicious.
Photographs
This is a gallery of images. Select one and scroll through the rest.
Some of the images were created using the Microsoft Copilot.
Questions
- What is your opinion of daylight saving time?
- Do you follow rugby league? Who do you want to win this year’s premiership games?
- How do you feel about Labour Day?
[i] This is not an economical cut of beef. I’ve been eating economy-grade steak through the week ($AUD18/kg). Tonight’s steak is a treat.
[ii] I like to use a flaky finishing salt when serving the steak and a coarse salt when dry brining the steak.
[iii] I like to freshly grind the peppercorns. I use a pepper mill but if you want a better experience grind the peppercorns with a pestle in a mortar.
[iv] I buy New Zealand grass-fed butter from Costco because it’s cheaper than grass-fed butter found in regular supermarkets.
[v] I buy pure pouring cream from Fleurieu Milk on the Fleurieu Peninsula. This cream has no thickeners or additives.
[vi] I try to buy cream cheese with the least number of additives on the label.
[vii] I like English Stilton. It has great flavour (the combination of taste, smell, and texture).
[viii] I recommend a good quality steak knife. A steak knife should be sharp, and it should cut the steak with minimal effort. “Sawing” a steak means the knife isn’t sharp enough.
